Thursday 22nd May 25
Posted: 23/05/2025 14:51
Thursday 22nd. A weak cold front made progress S overnight bringing a little welcome rain in the early hours but more importantly, importing a good airmass for thermal soaring during daylight hours. Consequently, the 31 ATs and 2 self launches off runway 02 resulted in 24 flights of over 30 minutes of which 20 were over an hour and 16 over 2 hours. 15 of the 21 private owners who flew completed XC's, with the club's DG1000 and DG500 also undertaking XC's, although James Shaw/Tor Taverner in the latter glider landed out just south of Northallerton after rounding Tontine and covering around 45 kms. The day's good soaring conditions, cloud base rising to over 6,000' asl over the Pennines and 5,000' asl elsewhere and average peak thermal strengths of over 6 kts led to 1 x 500 km flight, 4 over 300 km, 4 over 200 km and 2 over 100 km. The 500 km flight was by Dean Crosby in his LS10t, whose TP's were at Clitheroe, Canonbie in Scotland and Thorne, the flight taking just over 6 hours and Dean enjoying great views of ,Morecambe Bay, the Lakes and the Solway Firth. The 4 >300 km pilots were Chris Booker in his LS1 who did an O/R to Lauder in Scotland covering 385 km, Paul Kaye in his LS6, 358 km, with TPs at Kielder Castle and Wetherby S, Steve Thompson in his Ventus bt, 302 km, Rydal Bridge in the Lake District and Kexby near York, Steve finding a 7.2 kt average thermal and Chris Teagle in his LS8t-18, 342 km, Pontefract, Selset Reservoir and Burn. Dave Latimer in his Ventus 3M would have joined this group but his 302 km task around Driffield, Pontefract and Masham came to a end with an engine burn 6 km short or Sutton. The 4 > 200 km pilots were Andy Balkwill in his LS8t-18, at least 267 km, as he flew to Northallerton, Richmond, then W of Shap, the trace being poor in this area and Wetherby, Martin Newbery in his Ventus 2ct, 203 km, Beverley, Garforth, and Northallerton, Toby Wilson in his Std Cirrus, who flew the same task as Martin and Ed Syson who flew 223 km in his LS6 with TPs at Goole N, Pateley Bridge and Malton. The pilots to fly between 100 and 200 km were Bob Calvert in his Discus 2ct, 185 km with TPs at or near Tontine, Sutton and Aysgarth, with Bruce Grain/Andy Bedford taking the DG1000 101 km with TPs at or near Tontine and Ripon. Paul Whitehead's flight trace in his Ventus 2cxt disappeared over the Pennines after turning Knaresborough but reappeared just W of Ripon as Paul flew on to Kexby before having to resort to his engine 13 km short of Sutton and home after 3:50 on presumably another long flight. Back at site, the 2 seaters were also busy with local flying, including the day's only First Flight pupil.
This blog describes a snippet of life at the Yorkshire Gliding Club. Why not take a flight and try it yourself, or we can teach you to fly as a full club member.